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PHOTO

Zeiss Ikon

Folding, rangefinder and SLR cameras.

Founded
1926–1971
From
Dresden, Germany
Status
Defunct

Formed by merging four German makers and once the largest camera company in the world.

LANDMARKS

  1. 1932Contax

In the library

1932Rangefinder

Contax I

Zeiss Ikon35 mm film · Contax RF

Zeiss Ikon's answer to the Leica, with a long-base rangefinder and bayonet mount.

Source: WikipediaPhoto: Rama, CC BY-SA 2.0 fr
1936Rangefinder

Contax II

Zeiss Ikon35 mm film · Contax RF

Combined rangefinder and viewfinder in one window, a refinement over the Contax I.

Source: WikipediaPhoto: Rama, CC BY-SA 2.0 fr
1958SLR

Contarex

Zeiss Ikon35 mm film · Contarex

An expensive, heavy Zeiss SLR nicknamed the cyclops for its round meter window.

Source: WikipediaPhoto: ElHeineken, CC BY 3.0
1936Rangefinder

Contax III

Zeiss Ikon35 mm film · Contax bayonet

Zeiss Ikon rangefinder of 1936; it shows how the maker refined precise focusing on 35 mm film.

1950Rangefinder

Contax IIa

Zeiss Ikon35 mm film · Contax bayonet

A 1950 rangefinder from Zeiss Ikon on 35 mm film, built for quick, quiet focusing with the Contax bayonet.

1951Rangefinder

Contax IIIa

Zeiss Ikon35 mm film · Contax bayonet

Zeiss Ikon rangefinder of 1951; it shows how the maker refined precise focusing on 35 mm film.

1930Compact

Zeiss Ikon Kolibri

Zeiss Ikon127 roll film · Fixed lens

Introduced in 1930, this Zeiss Ikon camera used 127 roll film and kept the controls simple for general users.

Source: WikipediaPhoto: Rama, CC BY-SA 2.0 fr
1956SLR

Zeiss Ikon Contaflex III

Zeiss Ikon35 mm film · Tessar with interchangeable front elements

A 1956 single-lens reflex from Zeiss Ikon, framing through the lens on 35 mm film with the Tessar with interchangeable front elements.

1957SLR

Zeiss Ikon Contaflex Beta

Zeiss Ikon35 mm film · Pantar with interchangeable front elements

A 1957 single-lens reflex from Zeiss Ikon, framing through the lens on 35 mm film with the Pantar with interchangeable front elements.

1958SLR

Zeiss Ikon Contaflex Rapid

Zeiss Ikon35 mm film · Tessar with interchangeable front elements

A 1958 single-lens reflex from Zeiss Ikon, framing through the lens on 35 mm film with the Tessar with interchangeable front elements.

1959SLR

Zeiss Ikon Contaflex Prima

Zeiss Ikon35 mm film · Pantar with interchangeable front elements

A 1959 single-lens reflex from Zeiss Ikon, framing through the lens on 35 mm film with the Pantar with interchangeable front elements.

1962SLR

Zeiss Ikon Contaflex Super (new)

Zeiss Ikon35 mm film · Tessar with interchangeable front elements

Introduced in 1962, this reflex camera paired 35 mm film with the Tessar with interchangeable front elements in Zeiss Ikon's system.

1967SLR

Zeiss Ikon Contaflex 126

Zeiss Ikon126 cartridge film · Contaflex 126 bayonet

A 1967 single-lens reflex from Zeiss Ikon, framing through the lens on 126 cartridge film with the Contaflex 126 bayonet.

1955Compact

Zeiss Ikon Contina III

Zeiss Ikon35 mm film · Fixed lens with interchangeable front elements

Zeiss Ikon fixed-lens model of 1955; it brought easy everyday photography to 35 mm film.

1966SLR

Zeiss Ikon Icarex 35

Zeiss Ikon35 mm film · Icarex bayonet

A 1966 single-lens reflex from Zeiss Ikon, framing through the lens on 35 mm film with the Icarex bayonet.

1971SLR

Zeiss Ikon SL 706

Zeiss Ikon35 mm film · M42 screw mount

A 1971 single-lens reflex from Zeiss Ikon, framing through the lens on 35 mm film with the M42 screw mount.